OT Staff & Waquar Habib
Orang National Park is home to more than 125 Indian one-horned rhinoceros. It offers one of the best opportunities to observe these endangered megaherbivores in their natural grassland and swampy habitat.
Declared a tiger reserve in 2016, Orang supports a stable population of Bengal tigers. Conservation measures, including camera traps and patrol teams, have made it a model for big-cat protection.
Orang is one of the few protected areas where the critically endangered pygmy hog has been successfully reintroduced. It remains a vital habitat for this rare and secretive mammal.
The park is rich in biodiversity, with regular sightings of wild water buffalo, elephants, leopards, hog deer, and even the elusive Gangetic river dolphin in its adjoining water channels.
With more than 220 recorded bird species, including the Bengal florican and greater adjutant stork, Orang is a designated Important Bird and Biodiversity Area attracting birdwatchers from across the globe.
Spread over 79 sq km, Orang blends wetlands, grasslands, riverbanks, and forest patches. It is nourished by the Pachnoi, Belsiri, and Dhansiri rivers along the northern bank of the Brahmaputra.
Visitors can explore Orang’s terrain through guided jeep and elephant safaris. These provide intimate encounters with wildlife while traversing its marshlands, grassy trails, and shaded woodland paths.
Often called the Mini Kaziranga, Orang offers a serene alternative to busier reserves. Its uncrowded trails and open vistas allow for peaceful wildlife viewing and immersive nature experiences.
Orang features a variety of floodplain vegetation including grasslands, silk cotton trees, and aquatic plants. It also shelters king cobras, pythons, freshwater turtles, and other reptiles in diverse habitats.
The best time to visit Orang is from November to April. The cool, dry weather improves visibility, and wildlife activity peaks, including sightings of migratory birds along the wetlands.